JP5167551B1 - Automatic irrigation control device - Google Patents

Abstract

As a method for automatically controlling irrigation of potted plants, there is provided a solution for the problem of harming plants due to changes in weather and humidity that do not match changes in soil moisture.
[MEANS FOR SOLVING PROBLEMS] The structure of a sensor for detecting moisture in soil 3 is improved, current flowing between sensor electrodes 7 is suppressed to eliminate adverse effects due to electrolysis in soil 3, and moisture changes in soil 3 due to irrigation Can be detected in a timely manner, enabling automatic control corresponding to irrigation and moisture changes in the soil 3, thereby eliminating the need for a moisture detection sensor that causes excess water to leak out of the cultivation container 2 due to irrigation. In order to prevent erroneous determination due to a short between the sensor electrodes 7 due to the capillary roots of the plant 1, the sensor electrode is surrounded by a water-absorbing insulating material 7b. Make it possible to supply water.
[Selection] Figure 1

Description

      The present invention relates to an inexpensive automatic irrigation control that automatically controls irrigation of potted plants according to soil moisture.

As a method of automatically controlling irrigation of potted plants, there is a method of using a timer circuit to perform constant irrigation every day at a fixed time. However, changes in the weather and humidity can cause harm to plants without matching with changes in soil moisture. Yes. The method of detecting the soil moisture and irrigating according to the change is the method shown in the following patent document, but the method of detecting the height of the capillary water of the water-absorbing material with the soil moisture installed on the soil surface However, there is a problem that it takes time for water to reach the water-absorbing material by capillarity, and it is not suitable for automatic water control.
In order to solve this problem, the present plan is an improvement of a moisture sensor provided in the soil, a water storage tank, and an apparatus that can be easily used in a reception room.

JP-A-8-140508

    The present invention was made in view of the above circumstances, improved the structure of the sensor for detecting moisture in the soil, suppressed the conduction current to 3-5V several μA to eliminate the adverse effects of electrolysis in the soil, It was possible to detect water changes in soil in a timely manner and to automatically control irrigation in response to water changes in soil. Thereby, the detection sensor of the water | moisture content which excess water leaks out from a cultivation container by irrigation was abbreviate | omitted, and the cost reduction was aimed at. Furthermore, in order to prevent an erroneous determination due to a short between sensor electrodes caused by plant capillary roots, the electrodes are surrounded by a water-absorbing insulating material. Furthermore, the water source can be used not only in the water pipe but also in the reception room so that water can be supplied from the water storage tank.

(1) The water supply source does not use a water pipe, and a water supply tank is provided so that it can be used in the reception room.
(2) Soil moisture detection is installed in the soil to link irrigation and moisture changes.
(3) Eliminate adverse effects of electrolysis due to moisture detection current.

(1) A water supply tank is provided, the valve is opened and closed by a signal from the controller, and water is injected through a pipe.
(2) The electrode of the moisture detection sensor is embedded in the soil, and irrigation and moisture detection are linked.
(3) The moisture detection controller is electronic circuit controlled, and suppresses the current to 3-5V several μA.

By the above solution, the following points are greatly improved as compared with the conventional product.
(1) A water supply tank will be installed near the upper part of potted plants so that it can be used in the reception room.
(2) Increase the accuracy of automatic water supply control by accelerating moisture detection speed and linking irrigation and moisture detection.
(3) The sensor current is weakened to eliminate the harmful effects of electrolysis.

Overall configuration diagram of the proposed system Detailed view of the sensor electrode part of this plan Example of controller circuit of this plan Automatic control step diagram of this plan

The structure and operation of the present plan will be described below with reference to FIGS.
1 is an overall system configuration diagram of the present plan, FIG. 2 is a detailed view of a sensor electrode section of the present plan, FIG. 3 is an example of a controller circuit of the present plan, and FIG. 4 is an automatic control step diagram of the present plan.
Fig. 1 shows the overall system configuration of the proposed system, where 1 is a plant and 2 plants are planted in 3 soils. 4 is a saucer that is poured into 2 loam and serves to receive leaked water that cannot be absorbed by the 5 drainage holes. 7 sensor electrodes are inserted into 3 soils, and 17 sensor leads are connected to 16 controllers attached to 13 control boards. The 11 tanks are placed on the 18 tank stand, set at a position higher than the upper surface of the 2 cultivation containers, and make use of the head for water injection. 13 The control plate has a hook formed at the upper end, and is hooked on the upper end of the 11 tank. There are 19 power switches, 14 LED lamps, 15 buzzers, 16 controllers, and 8 solenoid valves on the 13 control board. The 10 water inlets of the 8 solenoid valves are secretly attached to the holes provided on the lateral bottom of the 11 tank, and 9 drains. A 9a pipe is secretly attached to the mouth, and the other end is placed near the root of one plant.
Further, instead of the water storage tank, a water inlet of an electromagnetic valve may be connected to the water pipe, and in this case, the height position of the water pipe is not limited.
Next, details of the sensor electrode unit will be described with reference to FIG. Reference numeral 60 denotes a sensor complete, in which two 7 sensor electrodes are passed through and fixed to a 6 fixing member, which is short on the upper side of the 6 fixing member and protrudes long on the lower side, and 17 sensor lead wires are connected to the upper side. The lower side is coated with 7a insulating paint without gaps on the entire circumference including the lower surface of the 6 fixing members, and the water is poured on the surface of the 3 loam soil. This is an insulating coating that is performed in order to prevent this. The portion below this insulating coating surrounds the entire circumference of the seven sensor electrodes with a 7b absorbing insulating material. The purpose is to prevent the erroneous determination that the humidity of the three soils has increased by reducing the electrical resistance between the electrodes when the capillary roots of one plant are directly entangled with the two sensor electrodes. The material of the 6 fixing members is plastic, and the material of the 7 sensor electrodes is preferably stainless steel or chrome plated brass. The thickness of the electrode is about 2-3 mm in diameter, and the length below the fixed member is preferably about 40-50 mm. The pitch between electrodes should be about 20-30mm. 17 sensor leads are connected to the upper side of the electrodes, and are connected to 16 controller terminals attached to 13 control boards. The electronic circuit of the 16 controller is configured as shown in FIG. 3. The 19 power switch, 4 LED lamp, 15 buzzer, and 8 solenoid valve connected in the circuit are attached to the 13 control board, and are electrically connected to the 16 controller circuit. It is connected.
The 7 sensor electrodes are installed in the middle of 2 cultivation containers and in the middle of 1 plant so that the bottom surface of the 6 fixing member is slightly open from the soil so that there is no gap between 3 loam soils around the 7 sensor electrodes. It is desirable to embed in.
Next, the outline of the controller circuit example of FIG. 3 will be described. The power supply is set to 3-5V with dry batteries, and consists of 1 power switch, 4 ICs, 3 transistors, 60 sensor complete, 14 LED lamp, 15 buzzer, 8 solenoid valve and other electronic components. When the space between the 7 sensor electrodes becomes dry and the electrical resistance falls below a certain level, Tr2 is turned off, Tr3 is turned on, 8 solenoid valve and 15 buzzer are turned on, the solenoid valve is opened, and 12 tanks of 12 tanks are stored. Water is poured into one plant through the 9a pipe, and at the same time, the 15 buzzer indicates that the water is being poured, and if 12 water storage is lost, water can not be poured, and the 15 buzzer continues to sound and alarms.
When water injection penetrates and the electrical resistance between the 7 sensor electrodes exceeds a certain level, Tr2 is turned ON, Tr3 is turned OFF, the solenoid valve is closed, the 14LED lamp is lit, water injection is completed, and one plant Display as a signal that the root humidity is appropriate. Note that the VR1 variable resistor can be used to adjust the constant value level of the electrical resistance between the sensor electrodes.
Next, the automatic irrigation control step will be described with reference to FIG. When the humidity of 60 sensor falls below a certain value, 8 solenoid valves are opened and water is injected from the 9a pipe. As a result, when the humidity of the 60 sensor exceeds a certain value, the 8 solenoid valves are closed, and water injection from the 9a pipe is stopped. By repeating this, automatic irrigation control is performed. As described above, as a display function associated therewith, as described above, the 15 buzzer functions to warn “no water injection or tank storage”. The 14 LED lamp functions to display “normal soil humidity”.

Next, the handling operation will be described. First, plant 3 soils and 1 plant in 2 cultivation containers, place them on 4 saucers, place them at your favorite positions, hook 13 control boards to 11 tanks, and place 11 tanks above the 2 cultivation containers. Place it on the 18 tank stand so that the bottom is located, or hang it on a part of the building. Then, 12 water is stored in 11 tanks, and the water inlet of 9a pipe is fixed near one plant. Next, the 7 sensor electrodes connected to the 16 controller are placed in a position that is not close to the water inlet of the 9a pipe in the middle of one planting and the inner circumference of the cultivation container as shown in FIG. Plug in. At this time, it is better that the lower surface of the 6 fixing members is in contact with the upper surface of the soil 3 or a little space is left. This completes the preparation, and the operation starts when the 19 power switch is turned on.
At this time, if the humidity of the three soils is appropriate, the 14 LED lamp is turned on. If the humidity is insufficient, the 15 buzzer will sound and the 8 solenoid valve will open, and water will be injected from the 9a pipe. After a while, the water injection will be completed, the 15 buzzer will stop ringing and the 14 LED lamp will light up. It can be judged that it worked normally. At this time, if the 15 buzzer does not stop ringing, the water injection is not performed normally or the connection failure of the 17 sensor leads can be considered.

According to the automatic irrigation control device of the present invention, appropriate irrigation control can be performed according to the moisture in the soil in the cultivation container, and the appropriate humidity of the soil can be controlled regardless of the weather, the size of the plant body, etc. Compared with a humidity sensor in which electrodes are attached to a water-absorbing material provided on the soil surface of the conventional example, the present method has a higher detection speed and can perform soil humidity and irrigation in conjunction with each other. Also, by reducing the energization current to the sensor electrode, adverse effects due to electrolysis can be avoided. Furthermore, by adopting a water injection method by opening and closing an electromagnetic valve from the water storage tank, it can be used even between reception rooms. In addition, by using many commercially available general-purpose parts for the equipment, it can be manufactured at a much lower cost than equipment currently on the market, and bonsai and other enthusiasts will be pleased.

1 plant, 2 cultivation container, 3 soil, 4 saucer, 5 drainage hole, 6 fixing member, 7 sensor electrode, 7a insulating paint, 7b water-absorbing insulating material, 8 solenoid valve, 9 drainage port, 9a pipe, 10 water inlet, 11 tank, 12 water storage, 13 control board, 14 LED lamp, 15 buzzer, 16 controller, 17 sensor lead, 18 tank stand, 19 power switch,
60 sensor complete

Claims (4)

A plant cultivation apparatus for cultivating a plant by putting soil in a cultivation container and cultivating the plant while irrigating the soil, a sensor electrode means, a controller control means, a water storage tank, a water supply means, and a solenoid valve for detecting the water content of the soil In an automatic irrigation control device comprising:
The sensor electrode means penetrates and fixes two electrodes to a fixing member, and insulates the lower surface of the fixing member and an outer periphery of a fixed length in the downward direction of the electrode protruding from the lower surface, and the surface of the soil And an automatic irrigation control device for detecting electrical resistance between the two electrodes, excluding a certain depth range . In irrigation automatic control apparatus according to claim 1, insulation means of the sensor electrode, under the electrodes of the two electrode penetrates fixed to the fixing member, protrudes from the lower surface and the lower surface of the fixing member The outer circumference of a certain length is sealed with insulating paint, and the water supplied to the soil flows only on the surface, so that the resistance between the two electrodes decreases, and it is mistaken that the water is filled up to the root of the plant. An automatic irrigation control device characterized in that   3. The automatic irrigation control device according to claim 1, wherein the sensor electrode insulating means is formed on the outer periphery of the lower portion of the electrode following the portion sealed with the insulating paint of the electrode. The plant's capillary roots etc. are in direct contact between the two electrodes to form an electrical short circuit, and the resistance between the electrodes decreases, and the plant is misidentified as being filled with moisture. An automatic irrigation control device characterized in that 2. The automatic irrigation control device according to claim 1, wherein the sensor electrode means chrome-plats the surface of a stainless steel or metal material of the two electrodes, and the electric resistance between the two electrodes is An automatic irrigation control device characterized by preventing occurrence of a malfunction in setting a control threshold value of the controller by fluctuating due to rust.